How to Charge an EV

Do you need to charge an EV, but don’t know how? Here are some quick tips!

Finding Charging Stations

Dozens of tools exist to help you find charging. Four are most valuable:

  • Your car’s in-dash navigation — Not all cars have this feature, but for those that do, it can be invaluable. Most include route-planning functionality, to help you find charging on a road trip.
  • A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) — This app and Web site is a route planner that can direct you to charging when you’re on a trip. https://abetterrouteplanner.com
  • PlugShare — This app (shown to the right) and Web site uses crowd-sourced data to help you find local charging. It’s great to find where to charge at a destination. https://www.plugshare.com
  • Charging network apps — Most charging networks, like EVgo, Electrify America, ChargePoint, and Tesla, have apps that show the locations of their charging stations.

Locating Your Charge Port

On most models, the charge port looks like a gas car’s fuel filler flap; but on some it’s harder to spot. On Teslas, it’s under a reflector at the left rear of the car; on some Kia and Hyundai models, it’s under a body panel on the right or left rear of the car; on Rivians, it’s under a body panel at the left front. A few models, like the Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro EV, and pre-2026 Nissan Leaf, put it at the front, on or above the front bumper.

Most models’ charge port flaps open manually, like a gas car’s fuel-filler flap; but some are motorized. These may open to the touch or to a control in the car. Teslas also open the flap if you push the button on a Supercharger’s charge handle.

Plug Types and Adapters

In North America, four EV plug types exist:

  • J1772 — This is an AC slow charging standard that adds 20–40 miles of range per hour of charging. Do not rely on this on a road trip except for overnight stays, at your destination, or in desperation!
  • CCS — This is an expansion of J1772 that provides DC fast charging capabilities. Most cars will take between 20 and 60 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% at most DC fast chargers.
  • Tesla/NACS/J3400 — This plug type supports both AC slow charging and DC fast charging. In 2025, Teslas and some Hyundai, Kia, and Lucid models use this plug, but most other automakers will begin using it on at least some models starting with model year 2026.
  • CHAdeMO — This is a DC fast charging standard that’s used mainly on Nissan Leafs. It’s failed in the US marketplace but its plugs are still somewhat common.

Adapters enable NACS vehicles to charge at J1772 and CCS stations; and some CCS cars (Ford, Rivian, GM, Volvo, Polestar, Nissan Ariya, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Acura, Honda, Jaguar, Audi, and Porsche vehicles, as of mid-September 2025) can charge at Tesla Superchargers via adapters. If you don’t have an adapter, you must find a station with a compatible plug type. Apps like PlugShare and ABRP have filters to show you only compatible stations.

PlugShare (shown earlier) displays AC slow chargers with green pins and DC fast chargers with orange pins.

Starting the Charge

Charging can be started in a number of ways; but not all stations (or cars) support all methods:

  • Credit card — Most networks (most Tesla Superchargers being a major exception) enable you to pay with a credit card at the charging station, without setting up an account. This is likely to be the most convenient method to pay if you’re renting an EV.
  • Plug-and-Charge — The easiest method is to plug in and charging starts. This method is most common at Tesla Superchargers, but some CCS stations support it, too. It must typically be set up with an account on the charging network or automaker. If you’re driving a rental, this method may not work, except on a Tesla.
  • App — Most charging networks have apps that can be used to start charging. To use an app, you must first set up an account and enter your credit card information. The image to the right shows the Applegreen app; as directed, you swipe to start the charge.
  • RFID card — After you create an account with a charging network, you may be able to request an RFID card that you can tap on the station to pay.

To plug in a CCS vehicle, you’ll need to open the charge flap, and you may also need to open a secondary flap that covers the two large DC fast charging pins on a CCS vehicle. It’s best to prepare your app or pull out your credit card, then plug in and activate the charge in quick succession. To activate with an app, you must typically identify the location and the specific charge post (by name or number) and then push a button or swipe to start the charge. (The image above shows the AG Electric [Applegreen] app ready to activate charger #4 at the Iroquois service plaza on I-90 in New York State.) Sometimes you can open the app and tap your phone as if it were an RFID card. If you wait too long between plugging in and authorizing the charge, it may time out.

Stopping the Charge

When DC fast charging, do not wait to charge to 100%! DC fast charging slows down the closer you get to full, so it’s usually not worth charging beyond 80% or so. You can remotely monitor the charging state using the car’s and/or charging network’s app. When you’re ready to stop a charge, you can do so in any of several ways:

  • Charge station screen — There may be a “stop charging” option on the charging station’s screen.
  • Charge network app — The app for the charging network usually lets you stop a charge.
  • Car app — The app for the car often provides an option to stop charging.
  • Car controls — The main screen in the car usually provides an option to stop charging. Fords have a button by the charge port to do this, too.
  • Plug button — Pushing the button on the charge station’s plug may stop charging. This method is most common and reliable at Tesla Superchargers. (This isn’t an optimal way to stop CCS charging.)

When you’re done charging, you can unplug by unlocking the car and then pushing a button on the charge handle and pulling it out of the car. With CCS cars, you may need to replace the flap over the DC fast charging pins and then close the main flap. Vehicles with motorized charge port flaps will usually close them shortly after you unplug.

Be sure to return the plug to its holster on the charger. Some holsters are flimsy; plugs may fall out if not fully secured.

This document is copyright © 2024–2025 by Roderick W. Smith (rodsmith@rodsbooks.com) and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License (FDL) version 1.3, https://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl-1.3.html